The Retreat at Fort Walton Beach

Spa and salon visits, a resident garden and walking paths fill the week for residents of The Retreat at Fort Walton Beach, 243 Hollywood Blvd. NW, on the Florida Gulf Coast. The community offers assisted living and memory care, along with short respite stays of 14 to 29 days, and Phoenix Senior Living operates it.

Assisted living covers supervision of bathing, dressing and other daily activities, with trained associates reachable around the clock and a resident call response system. Meals come three a day plus snacks, served restaurant style, with a private dining room for family occasions. Linen and housekeeping service, high-speed internet, climate-controlled heating and air conditioning, and concierge help are part of daily life.

Memory care is a dedicated setting for residents living with Alzheimer's or another dementia, with care plans that change as needs change. Ask how the day is structured there and how staff respond when a resident becomes anxious. For activity, residents have a fitness center, senior wellness classes, group exercise, a library, a game room, a courtyard and live entertainment, and the community is pet friendly with a secured dog park.

Scheduled transportation takes residents to appointments and outings, and the community names local spots such as HarborWalk Village, Okaloosa Island Pier, Ross Marler Park and Oak Tree Nature Preserve. Those are easy places to take visiting grandchildren. Families can also browse senior living in Fort Walton Beach for comparison.